And still… Billam-Smith unwraps an early Christmas present
On Sunday night, December 10, WBO World cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith (19-1, 13KO) defeated voluntary challenger Mateusz Masternak (47-6, 31KO) in the eighth round of their championship fight in Bournemouth.
It was the veteran Polish puncher's first ever world title shot after 17 years in the pro ranks and served as Billam-Smith's maiden title defence.
The 33-year-old home fighter and defending champion was trailing on the scorecards until he was able to break his tricky opponent's ribs, forcing him to retire in the eighth round.
CBS started on the front foot, as widely expected, but was met with stiff jabs from the Polishman. By the time it got to round three, both boxers were really opening up. Masternak used his traditional straight shots through the middle, but also landed right hooks from around the guard too. He was able to cut the champion above his left eye due to his accurate, thudding shots.
In the seventh stanza, CBS was rallying back, fighting up close where he is most effective, applying pressure, and was able to land several big hooks to the body, which had such a damaging effect, he forced Masternak to retire in the eighth round. He came off his stool for the start of the round but wasn't able to continue, citing broken ribs. It was Billam-Smith's ability to land those short, potent left and right hooks just under the elbows that won him the fight.
Post-fight, the champion stated, "I respected him so much in the build-up. Like I said, he would be one of my hardest fights to date and I think he proved that. I made it hard for myself, to be honest. I was trying too hard to land one big shot. Then the finishing shot that did the rib was a double jab, right hook-left hook to the body, and it was the right hook that done it.
"I knew I had hurt him because he slowed right down after that. Shane [McGuigan] had seen it in the build-up that he had a problem with his rib, just as we were in the ring, and he said, 'His ribs gone, he's got a lump on his left rib so target with the right hand', and that ended the fight so he knows what he's talking about, believe it or not!"
Full Results
Chris Billam-Smith WON-RTD8 Mateusz Masternak
Ben Whittaker WON-TKO4 Stiven Dredhaj
Lauren Price WON-PTS8 Silvia Bortot
Michael McKinson WON-UD10 Musah Lawson
Lee Cutler WON-UD10 Kingsley Egbunike
Lewis Edmondson WON-PTS6 Dmytro Fedas
Francesca Hennessey WON-PTS6 Lucrecia Belen
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